Synthesis of vitamin



Patented Dec 23, 1941 SYNTHESIS OF VITAMIN Be Stanton A. Harris, Westfleld, N. 1., assignor to Merck & 00., Inc., Railway, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing.

Application October 28, 1939,

I sci-m No. 301,733 Claims. (Cl. 260-296) This invention relates to the synthesis of vitamin Be and to various intermediates employed in its production.

In a co-pending application, Serial No. 267,603, is shown a process for the production of vitamin B6, in which 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyl-5-nitromethyl-pyridone-2 is chlorinated with phosphorus pentachloride, reduced with hydrogen in the presence or a catalyst, diazotized, and the resulting product hydrolyzed to form vitamin Be.

I have discovered that vitamin B6 may be obtained by reducing 3-cyano-4-alkoxymethyl-5- nitro-6-methyl-pyridone-2 to form 3-cyano-4- alkoxymethyl amino-B-methyl pyridone-Z, treating the latter compound with phosphorus pentachloride and phosphorus oxychloride to form 2 methyl 3 amino 4-aikoxymethy1-5- cyano-fi-chloropyridine, reducing, the latter compound with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to form 2-methyl-3-amino-4-aliroxymethyl-5-aminomethyipyridine, hydrolyzing the latter compound to form 2-methyl-3-amino-4- hydroxymethyl 5 aminomethyipyridine, which on diazotization yields vitamin B0.

Variations may be made in this synthesis. For example, 2-methyi-3-amino-4-alkoxymethyl-5-cyano-fi-chloropyridine may be acetylated with acetic anhydride to form 2-methyl-3-diacetyi-amino-4-aikoxymethyl 5 cyano6-chloropyridine, hydrogenating the latter compound to form 2-methyl-3-diacetylamino-4-alkoxymethyl- S-aminomethylpyridine, hydrolyzing the latter compound to form 2-methyl-3-amino-4-alkoxymethyl-5-aminomethylpyridine, hydrolyzing the latter compound to form 2-methyi-3-amino-4- hydroxymethyl-5-aminomethylpyridine, and diazotizing the latter compound to form vitamin Bo.

Alternatively, 2 methyl 3 amino-i-aikoxymethyl-5-cyano-6-chioropyridine may be treated with acetic anhydride undersomewhat less drastic conditions to form 2-methyl-3-acetylamino' 4-alkoxymethyi-S-cyano-G-chloropyridine, which may be used in the production of vitamin B0 according to the same procedure as outlined above for the corresponding diacetylamino de-v rivative.

I have also discovered that 3-cyano-4-alkoxymethyl-5-amino 6 methyl-pyridone-2 may be treated with acetic anhydride to form 3-cyano- 4 alkoxymethyl 5 acetylamino 6 -'methylpyridone-2. This compound is also obtained when 3 cyano 4 4 alkoxymethyl 5 nitro 6 methyl-pyridone-2 is reduced catalyticaliy in the presence of acetic anhydride. However, i1

3 cyano 4 aikoxymethyl 5 amino 6 methyl-pyridone-2 is-heated with acetic anhydride, 3 cyano 4 alkoxymethyl 5 diacetylamino-6-methyl-pyridone-2 is formed.

The compounds of the present invention have the general formulae wherein R is an alkyl radical, R is a member of the group amino, acetylamino and diacetylamino, R is a member of the group cyano and aminomethyl, and R3 is a member of the group chlorine and hydrogen.

The following examples illustrate methods of carrying out the present invention, but it is to be understood that these examples are given by way of illustration and not of limitation.

Example 1 A mixture of 14.8 gm. of 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyl-5-nitro-6-methy1-pyridone-2, 900 cc. of 95% aicohohand 0.5 gm. of Adams catalyst is hydrogenated under three atmospheres pressure. The hydrogenation is completed in approximately 1 hour, when three mols of hydrogen are taken up. The mixture is filtered and the filtrate evaporated to dryness. The 3-cyano-4- ethoxymethyl 5 amino 6 methyl pyridone-2 obtained is purified by recrystallization from alcohol. Yield 8.3 gm., M. P. 250-255 C. Additional material may be obtained from the mother liquor.

If desired, 4-alkoxymethyl-pyridones, other than 4-ethoxymethyi-pyridone, may be used as a starting material, such as i-methoxymethyi, etc.

2 gm. of 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyi-5-am?no-6- methyl-pyridone-Z are treated with to cc. of phosphorus oxychloride and 4 gm. of phos- 'phorus pentachloride, and allowed to stand overnight at room temperature C.). The phosphorus oxychioride is removed under reduced pressure, and the residue treated with ice water. On neutralization with ammonia, crystalline 2- methyl 3 amino 4 ethoxymethyl-Ei-cyano-B- chiororyridine separates out. Yield; 0.38 (16.5%). Ater three recrystailizations from aicohoi, it melts at 146-l47 C.

A solution of 3.8 gm. of 2-methyl-3-amino-4- ethoxymethyl 5 cyano 6 chloropyridine in 20-25 cc. oi acetic anhydride is refluxed for onehali hour. The acetic anhydride is removed by distillation under reduced pressure and the last trace destroyed by distilling with alcohol. 2- methyl 3 diacetylamino 4 i ethoxymethyl cyano-fi-chloropyridine crystallizes out of the alcohol, and is purified by recrystallization from 95% alcohol. Yield, 4.3 gm. or 82.5%; melting point 90-92 C. This compound is readily hydrolyzed by acid medium to the mono-acetyl compound.

A mixture of 3.09 gm. of .2-methyl-3-diacetylamino 4 ethoxymethyl 5-cyano-6-chloropyridine, 100 cc. of glacial acetic acid, 0.82 am. (one equivalent) of sodium acetate, gm. of 5% palladium charcoal and 0.5 gm. of Adams catalyst, are hydrogenated under three atmospheres pressure. After the theoretical amount of hydrogen is absorbed, the solution is filtered, concentrated to a syrup, taken up in alcohol, and' ing, crystallization starts. The picrate oi 2-' methyl 3 diacetylamino 4 rthoxymethyl 5- amino-methylpyridine obtained is purified by recrystallization from alcohol. Yield 2J3 gm; M. P. 190-191 C.

1.7 gm. of the picrate of 2-methyl-3-diacetylamino 4 -ethoxymethyl-5-aminomethylpyridine is dissolved in 25 cc. of hydrochloric acid. (1:1), and the picric acid is extracted with 20 cc. of nitrobenzene and then with ether until no yellow color remains. The mixture is refluxed for one and one-half hours, then evaporated, and the residue recrystallized from a mixture of alcohol and acetone. The 2-methyl-3-amino-4-ethoxymethyl -5-aminomethylpyridine-dihydrochloride, when dried at 100C. under a high vacuum, melts at 204 to 205 C. If desired, the free base oi. this compound may be obtained by treatment with an alkali, evaporation to dryness, and extraction with an organic solvent, such as alcohol or acetone.

2.24 gm. of 2 methyl 3 amino-4-ethoxy. methyl 5 aminomethylpyridine dihydrochlo ride are dissolved in 34 cc. of 2.5 N hydrochloric acid, and heated in a bomb tube for 4 hours at PIS-180 C. The slightly colored solution is flitered with charcoal, and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure. The dihydrochloride oi Z-methyl 3 amino-4-hydroxymethyl-5-aminomethylpyridine obtained is recrystallized from water and alcohol. Yield 1.44 gm. (76.7%), M. P. 235-237 C. The free base of this compound may be obtained by treatment with an alkali, evaporation to dryness, and extraction with an organic solvent, such as alcohol or acetone.

A solution of 1.28 gm. of 2-methyl-3-amino-4- hydroxymethyl-5-aminomethylpyridine-dihydrochloride in 22 cc. of water and a solution of 2.2 gm. of sodium nitrite are added simultaneously to 45 cc. of hot (90-95 C.) 2.5 N hydrochloric acid. The yellow solution is concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure, and the residue washed with acetone, which removes some of the color. The vitamin B6 hydrochloride is extracted from the sodium chloride with hot absolute alcohol. This solution is filtered with charcoal, and concentrated to a small volume. On addition of acetone, the vitamin B6 hydrochloride crystallizes. Yield, 0.5 gm. (45.4%) M. P. 208 C.

Erample 2 2.5 gm. .of 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyl-5-amino- 6-methylpyrldine-2 are dissolved in a hot mixture of 10 cc. of anhydrous pyridine and 3.5 cc. of acetic anhydride. After ten minutes, the solution is poured into about 10 cc. of ice water, whereupon' 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyl-5-diacetylamino-6-methyl-pyridone-2 separates and is filtered oil. It is purified by recrystallization from a small quantity of alcohol. Yield, 1.25 gm; M. P. 176 C.

Alternatively, 5.1 gm. of 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyl-5-amino-6-methyl-pyridone-2 is refluxed with 25 cc. of acetic anhydride for 2 hours. The acetic anhydride is removed by concentration in vacuo, and is concentrated several time: with alcohol to remove the acetic anhydride. The product is an oily material which crystallizes after standing for several days. After three recrystallizations from alcohol, the 8-cyano-4- ethoxymethyl 5 diacetylamino -6-methyl-pyridone-2 melts at 176 C.

Example 3 1 gm. of 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyl-5-amino-6- methyl-pyridone-2 is dissolved in 10 cc. of warm acetic anhydride which is then removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue is treated with ethyl acetate which dissolves the unchanged starting material and leaves 3-cyano- .-ethoxymethyl-5-monoacetylamino 6 methylpyridone-2 as a residue. It is recrystallized from ethyl alcohol, M. P. 260 C.

Alternatively, 23.5 gm. oi 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyl-5-nitro-6-m.ethyl-pyridone-2 are dissolved in 200 cc. of acetic anhydride and hydrogenated in the presence of 3 gm. of Adams catalyst. After 3 mole of hydrogen are absorbed, the reduction is stopped and the material filtered. 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyl- 5 monoacetylamino-6- methyl-pyridone-Z is recovered byrecrystallizing the precipitate from 95% alcohol. Yield of first crop 13.3 gm., or 53.4%. On evaporation of the mother liquor an additional quantity of material is obtained.

Example 4 2 gm. of 2-methyl-3-amino-4-ethoxymethyl-5- cyano-6-chloropyridine are dissolved in 10 cc. of

warm acetic anhydride and allowed to crystallize by cooling. The mixture is filtered and 1 gm. of starting material recovered. The acetic anhydride is decomposed by mixing with cold water. The product is extracted with four 10 cc. portions of chloroform, and the extracts washed with cold, saturated sodium bicarbonate solution until neutral, and finally with water and dried over calcium chloride. The chloroform is evaporated oil. and the residue 2-methyl-3-acetylamino-4-ethoxymethyl-5-cyano-6 chloropyridine recrystallized from 95% alcohol, M. P. 134136 C.

Modifications may be made in carrying out the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and I am to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Compounds of the formula:

CHiOR R l CN her of the group amino, acetylamino, and diacetylaminon 2. 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyl-5-amino-6-methy1- pyridone-2.

3. 3-cyano 4-ethoxymethyl-5-diacetylamino-6- methyl-pyridone-Z.

4. 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyl-5 acetyiamino-G- methy1-pyridone-2.

5. In the synthesis of vitamin B6, the step which comprises reacting 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyl-S-nitro-6-methyI-pyridone-2 with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst.

6. In the synthesis of vitamin E5, the step which comprises treating 3-cyano-4-ethoxymethyl-5-amino-6-methyl-pyridone-2 with acetic anhydride.

STANTON A. HARRIS.

. CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2366,7514" December 25, 1914.1.

STANTON A. HARRIS- It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows Page 2, sec-- 0nd column, line 5, for "6-methylpyridine-2" read --6- y py and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this CQII'BCtiOD. therein that the same may conformto the rapqrd of the base in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed This 28th of July, A. D. 19112.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patants. 

